adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/
US:/kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/
US:/kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/
US:/kiːˈzɑtɪk/
rare:/kiˈɑtɪk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒtɪk
CMU ARPABET:K W IH0 K S AA1 T IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Resembling or characteristic of the Spanish chivalric hero Don Quixote; possessed with or resulting from the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Overly optimistic and moralistic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Exceedingly idealistic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Alternative letter-case form of quixotic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A quixotic person or sentiment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
as quixotic as a restoration of medieval knighthood
a romantic disregard for money
a wild-eyed dream of a world state
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: romantic, wild-eyed
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
դոնկիխոտյան
(donkixotyan)
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Bulgarian:
донкихо́товски
(donkihótovski)
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Catalan:
quixotesc
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Czech:
donkichotský
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Czech:
donkichotovský
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Dutch:
wereldvreemd
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Dutch:
donquichotterig
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Dutch:
impulsief
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Esperanto:
donkiĥota
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Finnish:
donquijotemainen
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Finnish:
quijoottinen
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
French:
quichottesque
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
German:
quichottisch
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
German:
lebensfremd
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
German:
realitätsfern
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Hungarian:
Don Quijote-i
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Hungarian:
Don Quijote-s
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Italian:
donchisciottesco
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Macedonian:
донкихотски
(donkihotski)
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Pannonian Rusyn:
донкихотски
(donkixotski)
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Polish:
donkiszocki
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Polish:
donkiszotowski
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Portuguese:
quixotesco
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Russian:
донкихо́тский
(donkixótskij)
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Spanish:
quijotesco
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Spanish:
aquijotado
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Swedish:
donquijotisk
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Swedish:
romanesk
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Swedish:
äventyrlig
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Turkish:
Kişotvari
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Turkish:
donkişotça
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
Turkish:
donkişotluk
— Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
